Using a generator...

[lorisnuts]

I might sound crazy doing this but we live in a rural area. During power outages it is a good time for looters to be about. Because of that we make sure we have our generator chained and padlocked to something that will not move. Garage door or built in work bench is what we usually use.

 

[John VN]

CAUTION when back-feeding generator into house. Without properly installed electrical equipment, power company linemen/women can be killed.

Just a moment to read----http://www.cmpco.com/UsageAndSafety/electricalsafety/GeneratorSafety/backfeed.html

Our generator is not operated during a storm, but only after the storm when the wind and rain have stopped. It plugs into an outlet on the outside of the house. It's only large enough to power necessary things on a few circuits, not the whole house.

We store gasoline in approved metal cans in the garage, but we could siphon gasoline from a vehicle if absolutely necessary, I suppose. We've never had that need.

We've had one for several years. DH built a little shelter for it, with one side open. He buried the line in conduit underground and it leads right up to the house. I think the electrical runs under the house, then up through the breaker box inside. We don't have any extension cords that go to it. Then when the power goes out, dh fires up the generator, and I know we flip the breakers we need to run (I almost never have to run it, so dh made me set of directions, because there are some safety issues)

 

[sam_gordon]

CAUTION when back-feeding generator into house. Without properly installed electrical equipment, power company linemen/women can be killed.

Just a moment to read----http://www.cmpco.com/UsageAndSafety/electricalsafety/GeneratorSafety/backfeed.html

This is definitely something to consider, but not an issue if you are simply using extension cords from the generator to devices. It *IS* an issue if the generator is anyway tied to your main breaker panel.

 

[LilGMom]

I might sound crazy doing this but we live in a rural area. During power outages it is a good time for looters to be about. Because of that we make sure we have our generator chained and padlocked to something that will not move. Garage door or built in work bench is what we usually use.

We did that after Hurricane Ivan in 2004. We were without power for over a week, there was no gas at the stations, stores were low on supplies and generators were close to impossible to find. Add to that the high heat and humidity and people were losing their minds.

 

[Kellydelly]

I might sound crazy doing this but we live in a rural area. During power outages it is a good time for looters to be about. Because of that we make sure we have our generator chained and padlocked to something that will not move. Garage door or built in work bench is what we usually use.

This isn't crazy, it's common sense .

 

[a1tinkfans]

tried 9 stores..NO generators anywhere
tomorrow...batteries and flashlights and the like will be organized instead
Then lots of food stuff ...like PB and J
hoping the power outages if at all, will be LESS than the last one....WHY did I wait to get one

 

[TinkerBelled]

I would recommend investment in a few carbon monoxide alarms, generator or no generator.

 

[JoiseyMom]

We bought a generator after we lost power last year with Irene. We were only without power for 12 hours, but it only took a few to flood and destroy our basement without a working sump pump. Dh and I will set everything up tomorrow.

I had errands to run today, just the normal things. I went to Target, picked up distilled water, and a women was like, you didn't want drinking water did you? LOL, I was like no, I wanted the distilled thanks!

Then I went to Costco. Believe me, I wish I had bought bread earlier in the week, but I didnt need it then. LOL...talk about a cluster! The store was like a weekend! Oh my. I saw one person leave with a generator in the trunk. They had the really big full house ones lined up on the big carts to purchase. I never saw so many ppl with so many cases of water too! I bought one, but that was because the case we have at home was almost empty.

I was able to get all my normal items, and some extra snack items and went home. I didn't dare go to Shoprite. The items I wanted to stock up on will be on sale another time! LOL

 

[kirstenb1]

CAUTION when back-feeding generator into house. Without properly installed electrical equipment, power company linemen/women can be killed.

Just a moment to read----http://www.cmpco.com/UsageAndSafety/electricalsafety/GeneratorSafety/backfeed.html

Thanks!! DH is the most safety conscious person I know. He's an engineer, and over-designs everything he builds. We've added onto our home several times, and each time the building inspector comes out, he says, "an engineer must have built this", lol!!

If there are any specific questions about his wiring the generator, I'd be glad to ask him to clarify. But he was very careful about locating the generator about 25 ft from the house, venting it, and very specific about leaving me instructions in case he was out of town.

 

[diz8297]

I know others have posted this, but I come from personal experience. DO NOT operate the generator in the garage. Back in the 80's, my father almost killed me, my mother, and himself by doing this. Fortunately, my mother woke up, but I had the worst, absolutedly worst headache of my life. Everyone stay safe in the coming days!!

 

[MinnieTink]

I posted a very similar thread . I can see how it's best to wait until the rain is over to run the generator. However considering how long this weather event could be it may be necessary to run the generator if we lose power and the basement starts going under water. Is there some way to shelter it? (I know not in the garage)

Our neighbor just got a generator and told me he was just going to put it in his garage and leave the door "cracked" open. Yeah in his attached garage. Good Lord. I had to explain the consequences of such an act.

 

[sam_gordon]

I posted a very similar thread . I can see how it's best to wait until the rain is over to run the generator. However considering how long this weather event could be it may be necessary to run the generator if we lose power and the basement starts going under water. Is there some way to shelter it? (I know not in the garage)

Our neighbor just got a generator and told me he was just going to put it in his garage and leave the door "cracked" open. Yeah in his attached garage. Good Lord. I had to explain the consequences of such an act.

Is there a side of the house "away" from the storm? Not that it won't rain on it, but where the house would shield the genny from the brunt (wind/rain)?

 

[RitaZ.]

I posted a very similar thread . I can see how it's best to wait until the rain is over to run the generator. However considering how long this weather event could be it may be necessary to run the generator if we lose power and the basement starts going under water. Is there some way to shelter it? (I know not in the garage)

Our neighbor just got a generator and told me he was just going to put it in his garage and leave the door "cracked" open. Yeah in his attached garage. Good Lord. I had to explain the consequences of such an act.

Maybe you can put a piece of plywood on sawhorses (if they are taller than the generator) to encase the generator. The only problem is that if the winds are strong enough, which they have been here and we aren't even close to the storm, it could blow that set-up away. Just do the best that you can for this storm. You can come up with a permanent solution later on.

We're bombarded with hurricane information every season. The meteorologists always emphasize generator safety, but it doesn't seem to matter. A few people always die because they didn't follow safety precautions.

 

[manning]

It plugs into an outlet on the outside of the house. It's only large enough to power necessary things on a few circuits, not the whole house.

.

WARNING !!!

Be sure you have the ability to take your house off the grid, else you will be back feeding power into the grid. If you zap a lineman be prepared to hire a good lawyer.

 

[Sadie22]

WARNING !!!

Be sure you have the ability to take your house off the grid, else you will be back feeding power into the grid. If you zap a lineman be prepared to hire a good lawyer.

We know the proper, safe way to use our generator. There is no chance of backfeeding. Those who do not have their own electricians are advised to get the services of one before using a generator. A day or two before a major weather event is not the time to set up a generator for the first time. They are, indeed, extremely dangerous in uninformed hands.

For those with sump pumps, we have a battery backup on ours since we have a water problem all the time, not just when there is a tropical storm. An inverter switches to the battery when commercial power fails.